June 14, 2011

Last Friday, two U.S. Marines, Captain Ademola Fabayo and Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, were awarded the Navy Cross, America's second-highest award for combat valor, for their actions in Afghanistan in 2009.

Fabayo, a lieutenant at the time and commander of the mission, was on foot when the attack started. He and the troops he was with fired back, but they were trapped for about two hours. When he called for close-air support, he was told that the fighting was too close to the village and civilians would be at risk. So Fabayo organized a team of Afghan soldiers to attempt to break out of the ambush and head back to the rear and relative safety. He got them to cover, treated their wounds. But four of his Marines were missing.

Rodriguez-Chavez, driving an armored Humvee as part the column's security element, called Fabayo and begged to drive up and help, Fabayo said no. He wanted no more Marines in the kill zone

Eventually, Rodriguez-Chavez did drive into the ambush three times, evacuating two dozen Afghan troops and Marines.

"As the only vehicle moving anywhere, particularly into the fight, their Humvee became the most obvious target on the battlefield and it was hit again and again. But with no other way to get to their friends available, they kept going, returning fire entire time," Mabus said.

By now Fabayo was with Rodriguez-Chavez in the Humvee as he drove into the kill zone a fourth time under heavy fire. With Fabayo in the gun turret, the most exposed part of the truck, they found the four missing Marines. Unfortunately, they all died fighting off the ambush. Nonetheless, Fabayo, Rodriguez-Chavez and several other Marines and soldiers risked their lives to get the four fallen Marines off the battlefield.

In what has become a Flag Day tradition here at CTT, I offer you these heartfelt words from Mr. Alvin M. Owsley, a World War I Infantryman, VMI graduate and American Legion Plank owner:

Respect the Flag

When you see the Stars and Stripes displayed, son, stand up and take off your hat. Somebody may titter. It is in the blood of some to deride all expression of noble sentiment. You may blaspheme in the street and stagger drunken in public places, and the bystanders will not pay much attention to you; but if you should get down on your knees and pray to Almighty God, or if you should stand bareheaded while a company of old soldiers marches by with flags to the breeze, some people will think you are showing off.

But don't you mind! When Old Glory comes along, salute, and let them think what they please! When you hear the band play "The Star-Spangled Banner" while you are in a restaurant or hotel dining room, get up even if you rise alone; stand there and don't be ashamed of it, either!

For of all the signs and symbols since the world began there is none other so full of meaning as the flag of this country. That piece of red, white and blue bunting means five thousand years of struggle upward. It is the full-grown flower of ages of fighting for liberty. It is the century plant of human hope in bloom.

Your flag stands for humanity, for an equal opportunity to all the sons of men. Of course we haven't arrived yet at that goal; there are many injustices yet among us, many senseless and cruel customs of the past still clinging to us, but the only hope of righting the wrongs of men lies in the feeling produced in our bosoms by the sight of that flag.

Other flags mean a glorious past, this flag a glorious future. It is not so much the flag of our fathers as it is the flag of our children, and of all children's children yet unborn. It is the flag of tomorrow. It is the signal of the "Good Time Coming." It is not the flag of your king—it is the flag of yourself and of all your neighbors.

Don't be ashamed when your throat chokes and the tears come, as you see it flying from the masts of our ships on all the seas or floating from every Flagstaff of the Republic. You will never have a worthier emotion. Reverence it as you would reverence the signature of the Deity.

Listen, son! The band is playing the national anthem—"The Star-Spangled Banner!" They have let loose Old Glory yonder. Stand up—and others will stand with you.

And finally, this bit of classic advice: if you feel compelled to burn the American flag, which so many have sweated and bled and died for, please feel free to wrap yourself in it first. Happy flag day, America.

June 06, 2011

Sixty-seven years ago today, American, Canadian and British forces kicked off Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of France. Nearly 20,000 men - on both sides of the battle - were killed or wounded, many more were taken prisoner. The end of the war in Europe was in sight.

The indelible courage of the men involved in the operation, whether they moved ahead through withering fire on Omaha Beach, or climbed the cliffs at Point du Hoc under heavy fire, or stepped through a dark door over the fields of France to link up with the resistance movement, their selfless can never be forgotten.

May 31, 2011

In keeping with the highest tradition of the airborne soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry, Company A, 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and currently assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia, will be awarded the nation's highest honor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Afghanistan in 2008.

Recognizing the threat that the enemy grenade posed to his fellow Rangers, Petry -- despite his own wounds and with complete disregard for his personal safety -- consciously and deliberately risked his life to move to and secure the live enemy grenade and consciously throw the grenade away from his fellow Rangers, according to battlefield reports.

As Petry released the grenade in the direction of the enemy, preventing the serious injury or death of Higgins and Robinson, it detonated and catastrophically amputated his right hand.

With a clear mind, Petry assessed his wound and placed a tourniquet on his right arm. Once this was complete, he reported that he was still in contact with the enemy and that he had been wounded again.

The award will be made at the White House by President Obama on July 12.

May 29, 2011

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of EarthAnd danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, – and done a hundred thingsYou have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swungHigh in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,I've chased the shouting wind along, and flungMy eager craft through footless falls of air...Up, up the long, delirious, burning blueI've topped the wind-swept heights with easy graceWhere never lark, nor eer eagle flew – And, while with silent lifting mind I've trodThe high, untrespassed sanctity of space,Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

You are not forgotten on this day or any other. May you rest in peace.

May 25, 2011

President Obama and his friends may be the most fundamentally dishonest administration in history, but you have to admit they have a keen sense of sarcasm. Here's their latest attempt at "transparency:"

The Huffington Post reports that Jesse Lee, formerly of the administration's New Media Department, will be installed as the first ever Director of Progressive Media & Online Response. Lee would be the first White House staff member to hold such a position.

In an internal memo provided to the Huffington Post, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer described Lee's newfound role as such: "For the last two years, Jesse has often worn two hats working in new media and serving as the White House's liaison with the progressive media and online community. Starting this week, Jesse will take on the second role full time working on outreach, strategy and response."

Maybe they can start with all of the lies Obama tells and move on to his friends in the lamestream media right after that. I'll hold my breath.

May 12, 2011

Tomorrow marks the start of National Police Week, a week when those of us in the community remember absent comrades lost in the line of duty and recognize those they left behind. Events will be held in Washington, D.C. on May 15, National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, and in every state in the union. Police officers across the country - and the world - will take part in some way.

This National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day in particular is more difficult than most, given that so many police officers have already been killed by gunfire in the first few months of this year. Our nation's law enforcement professionals are at war, and they need our support.

Sadly, President Obama couldn't care less. Just ask Common, who not only supports those who murder police officers, but actively supports violence against them, as well. In a singular act of idiocy, Obama invited Common to read poetry at the White House even as the widows of slain police officers were on their way to D.C. for opening ceremonies. And as we all know, this isn't the first time this president has slapped our police officers and their families in the face.

I'm not one of those who thinks that President Obama is a clueless boob who doesn't know what he's doing. Rather, I think he's a facade, a puppet whose strings are in the hands of smarter, richer and more powerful men than he. I think everything about him is contrived, planned and scripted. Therefore, I can only assume that the appearance by Common on the eve of this sacred week was intentional.

Obama is in re-elect mode and is desperate to hide the damage he has done to this country in a mere three minus years. Inviting a Black rapper appeals to his base and since he despises our LEO's and military folks anyway, the choice is a simple one; Common wins, our nation's heroes lose. Even when the facts were pointed out to them, Obama refused to rescind the invite. There goes the ignorance argument.

I wish I could say that I am surprised, but I'd be lying. I've come to expect this kind of insult from this president, who seems to care nothing for this country or our citizenry. He is a man out for his own gain - and that of his friends - and will say and do anything to gain more power.

Like every Sheepdog, I support Common and his right to express his opinion in the manner that he wants. It seems a shame, however, that both he and this president would choose to insult the very people who provide and protect that priceless right. On this day, I celebrate and honor those who have the price for that freedom with their lives, and those who continue to stand a watch, each and every day. May God bless you all.

May 04, 2011

Leave it to the worst administration in history (sorry, Jimmy Carter!) to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. What just a few days ago was a stunning success has been turned into an unbelievable debacle, courtesy of Barack Obama and his team.

Immediately after the mission, the SpecOps forces would have gone into debriefing. Given that they were being watched by the POTUS himself and were wearing cameras during the op, it seems very unlikely that they lied during any of their debriefs. Therefore, all of the early confusion and inaccuracies came directly from the White House itself, especially given the super secrecy of the operation. Although they have argued "the fog of war," their initial account of what happened is so far from the truth it is inexcusable. Who made up this fanciful account?

First, we were told that there was a twenty minute firefight, but now it seems that there were no bodyguards present, and only two brothers and another man fired weapons. The rest of the house appears to have been full of women and children. I find it unlikely that three untrained men could keep 24 DEVGRU SEALs at bay for twenty minutes. So what took so long for them to get to bin Laden's final position?

May 02, 2011

It's been a long road, and it probably matters little now, but Usama bid Laden met his fate last night at a mansion in Pakistan. You know, the same Pakistan that we give billions of dollars to every year in hopes of getting some good will in return. Fat chance.

While Americans across the globe are celebrating his death - and Muslims are threatening retaliation - there is one simple truth: this victory belongs to the men and women of the U.S. military and our intelligence community. To every American, man or woman, whether military or civilian, who has served in Afghanistan in the last ten years, this victory is yours. God bless each of you for your service, your courage, your commitment to your country. You have won.

May God keep our brothers and sisters who gave their lives in this effort, for you are not forgotten. And let us also renew our commitment to support our combat wounded and their families.

Finally, let this be a lesson for those who would murder and butcher our citizens: you can never defeat us. We will come to your home in the middle of the night, even though you may be in another country, and put a bullet in your head. Even though you may hide behind your wife. Even if it takes ten damned years. You will fucking pay.